Before I turn things over to Ray and his interview, I feel compelled to mention that as recently as last week, scientists were warning that an attack on the US power grid is not something to disavow. It could happen and if it does, we will, as a nation, be woefully unprepared to be thrown back to a time when technology as we know it did not exist.

As Ray describes in his books, “the road back home is a long one and the obstacles are great”. It is my opinion that the more we read about fictionalized tales of survival, the better we will be able to plan for our own “rescue” should the unthinkable happen.

Enjoy the interview and be sure to check out the details of this week’s giveaway below.

An Interview with Ray Gorham, Author of 77 Days in September

Tell me about your book, 77 Days in September. What is it about?

77 Days in September is the story of a guy from Montana stranded in Houston after a successful EMP attack, and his ordeal trying to return home to his family. It’s done from the perspective of an average guy who is not prepared to deal with the new reality and how he flounders while trying to survive.

What type of research did you have to do while writing your book?

Most of the research went into EMP’s and the impact they’ll have on our society. Beyond that I had to try and come up with a realistic route and scenarios for the characters to endure.

How long did it take to write?

First draft took me about 6 months to write, then another 6 months of rewrites and polishing. Still not perfect, but it’s in pretty decent shape, with much thanks to my patient wife for all her efforts editing it.

Every book, fiction and non-fiction, includes a message. What message do you hope my readers will take with them after reading 77 Days in September?

I guess I have two messages in this book. First is that modern society is just a small nudge away from a pretty bleak future, and that ultimately the only one looking out for ourselves is us. When things get bad there won’t be anyone there to take care of us. The other message is about love and family, and what price a person will pay to have that in their life.

Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself?

I’m just a normal guy living in Montana, building log homes, and trying to help my wife raise our five kids. 77 Days is my first novel, and while I’m no Steven King, I think it turned out alright.

As an author in the survival, prepping and/or homesteading niche, what are you personally preparing for?

I’m prepping for an EMP. I figure that’s about worse case, so if I’m ready for that I’ll do okay no matter what comes along. I’ve got stacks of canned foods, a large garden and orchard, beehives, guns, and a wood stove. Hope I never have to rely on them, but if I do I can probably struggle through.

Do you have plans for another book?

Yes. I have a sequel to 77 Days in September, called Daunting Days of Winter, and I’m also halfway through a first draft of a book that takes place 15 years after a massive pandemic. With the Ebola thing going on I’m kind of wishing I already had it done. At least that will raise awareness when I get it out there.

Is there anything else you would like to share with my readers?

77 Days in September is not a how to manual, and the characters frustrate a lot of hard core preppers because they are pretty clueless.

I wrote it more as an effort to alert people who are unaware of our vulnerability to such a devastating possibility, and have had lots of comments from people who said they were going to start prepping. I think it makes a great read for people who don’t see the need to do anything to prepare themselves for disaster, as well as for people who just want to meet some decent characters.

The deadline is 6:00 PM Pacific next Tuesday with the winner notified by email and announced on the Rafflecopter in the article. Please note that winners must claim their eBooks within 48 hours or an alternate will be selected.

The Final Word

An EMP initiated by terrorist organizations could set up back 200 years or more. I don’t know about you, but I am making up a list of those things that would impact me most if an EMP were to occur. Give some thought to that giveaway question; it is an important one.

Good luck, everyone!

Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye

Related Articles:

In Book 1, Kyle Tait is settling in for his flight home to Montana when a single nuclear bomb is detonated 300 miles above the heart of America. The blast, an Electro-Magnetic Pulse (EMP), destroys every electrical device in the country, and results in the crippling of the power grid, the shutting down of modern communications, and bringing to a halt most forms of transportation.

Kyle forges his way home, his frightened family faces their own struggles for survival in a community trying to halt its slow spiral into chaos and anarchy.

In Book 2, having survived the harrowing, cross-country journey home to his family, Kyle must now struggle for existence in a post-EMP world that no one could have imagined just three short months prior. Follow Kyle, Jennifer, and the citizens of Deer Creek, MT as they plumb the depths of their resourcefulness, strength, endurance, and humanity while struggling together to survive the daunting days of winter.

Bargain Bin: For your convenience, here is a list of all of the books in the current Backdoor Survival Book Festival.

Need something from Amazon (and who doesn’t)? I earn a small commission from purchases made when you begin your Amazon shopping experience here. You still get great Amazon service and the price is the same, no matter what.

Amazon has a feature called Shop Amazon – Most Wished For Items. This is an easy tool for finding products that people are ‘wishing” for and in this way you know what the top products are. All you need to do is select the category from the left hand side of the screen.

Comments

The one thing I know I’m not prepared for is being out of touch with family that lives 2000 miles away. We are prepared here for (hopefully) thriving in most scenarios, but our families are in denial that anything could possibly happen. Scary.

@ Kathy, I understand your predicament. I too am about 25 miles from nearest town. I have a GHB(get home bag) in all vehicles at all times. I have figured that it could take me 2 full days to get home under ideal conditions and possibly 3 under harsher conditions. My GHB has enough calories to last my family of 4 for 5 days and water for 3 days. I also keep a boosted up first aid kit that has a week supply of a critical med, this med gets changed out and replaced with fresh every time I change the clocks for DST. Along with the usual water filtration, fire starters, paracord, duct tape and other typical survival gear, I also keep two fold-up strollers in my vehicle at ALL times. yes there are moments when my hubby gets annoyed at the room they take up, but to me it is a small price to pay. I have to young ones that I couldn’t expect to walk the entire way and I want to have the option of pushing them at least part of the way. Another thing I have thought of is that if I did find myself in this situation, then I feel sure that I will be PERMANENTLY abandoning my vehicle so I plan to strip it of anything useful. For instance, I have thought about cutting the seatbelts out because they will be light weight but very strong if I needed to bind something…or someone. If it happened to be cold weather then the seat upholstery could be cut off and used as extra layers for warmth. And, absolutely don’t neglect to keep a pair(or two) of spare socks incase you do need to hoof it. Sore, blistered feet could slow you down to a lethal pace.

I think the lack of long distance communication would be the hardest for me also. My adult children are scattered all over the country, and none of them will be prepared. I can only hope that they will try to get to us.

I think I could live in a world where there wasn’t any technology but I think a hard part for me would be the not knowing. The not knowing how people/family are doing. Also not being able to watch the news and see what is going on in the rest of the world.

If an EMP hit in the winter, like this book, many people would die of exposure. Food would disappear real quick and getting food from the wild is just about impossible in the winter. I would love to win this book to see how he would tell the story of this scenario.

First time commenter (I think?), here, and only been prepping seriously for about five months.

I think right now the thing I feel the most unprepared for is the amount of physical activity that I would have to do for my family to survive. I’m a 24-year-old who works with preschoolers and have a three-year-old of my own, so I’m not someone who lies on the couch all day. However, my mid-twenties husband is in a wheelchair (and not really into “the whole prepping thing”), and more and more I’m realizing that if I can’t do something, we’re in for a whole lot of hurt.

hmmm, the hard part of this question is narrowing it down to just one. I feel so unprepared yet in a few departments. Water storage isn’t high enough, keeping little ones cool in the heat of summer would be hard, but I think the most critical deficiency that I am still working to overcome is defense. I feel unready to fully defend my exterior stuff, as in keeping garden from being raided, as well as keeping my poultry and livestock from being plundered. If I had a impenetrable wall around my entire property or a moat or something, then I could be completely self sufficient starting today if need be…. but how to hold on to so much if a large mob wandered out to this backwoods area, I just don’t have the tactical knowledge to know to create a good plan. In an ideal world I would like to have neighbors that would band together and take turns on guard watch and then my produce and livestock would be plenty enough to feed a small army, but like minded and TRUSTWORTHY people are a treasure that I have yet to find.

I believe we would be most unprepared for the end of modern technology of all categories. No medicine from the drug store, no modern medical care, can’t pump gas at your local service station, difficulty in getting fresh food and water, lack of communication/news, etc. … However, to specifically answer the contest question, for my family it would be the lack of medical care. We are prepared for minor ills and injuries, but not anything more serious.

I will not have enough of my prescription medications because of the difficulty in stockpiling. When I run out of meds, then how soon will I become too ill to contribute and how soon will my health become a problem for those around me.

Depends on how long it would be,I’d be ok with good for awhile, water prob just couple wks,I’d say defense is my worst prep, I have a 22, but dont practice much, I really need a handgun. Murauders who dont have enough food/water past couple days is going to be very dangerous.

I have been practicing and preparing all my life 60 years, except for my medications, which I could probably do without, I am prepared for just about anything. I feel I could step back in time 140 years and do ok. I have lived my life to do just that and prepared for it. I have written 2 books on survival and preparing for emergencies, though EMP survival is not covered because I can live without modern conviences just fine, including phones.

I think what I am most unprepared for is the inability to communicate. I work 60+ miles from my home, so no way to let my spouse know what’s going on. Then there’s the “kids” all adults, but they live 2000 miles away.

Medicine will be a problem for many including my family. Right now am learning all I can about alternative medicines, including EO’s. We are a family of many nurses and soon to be medical doctor. So traditional medicine as long as the supplies last are fairly well covered. However, God help us all if and/or when something happens.

we are preparing for several different scenarios. but an EMP would be the hardest because you would never know it was coming. I would be very concerned for family that lives in other states, my son-in-law is an OTR truck driver,and my son and daughterinlaw that are goinng to school in England.the lack of communication would be horrifying because we would not know what was happening in other places not to mention other countries. my 78 yrs old mother lives 20 miles away.she would have to be a first priority .

I read this book about a year ago and highly recommend it. It’s still one of my favorite in this genre.

Funny that the author mentions how readers who already have a prepper’s mindset would get angry at the characters sometimes. I can remember reading the book and thinking to myself “NO! what are you doing. Don’t do that” when a certain character would find themselves in different situations. Then I would stop and remind myself that this is how the author meant these character to be. Caught in a grid down situation and societal collapse and not having been prepared in any way.

It’s a good book and keeps your attention. Pick it up. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Not having the family here with us when it hits and trying somehow to get my children, grandbabies and the others here or communicationg with them I am working on communications but SO much needs to be done. Son and DIL are in one state, his kids are in another with the ex and they all are not close enough to the BIL(BOL for them) to walk it safely or in a timely manner. I do hope I win

I can’t think of anything I’m “totally” unprepared for. The greatest unprepared thing I can think of is medical emergencies. I know how to get potable water, food, shelter, warmth (if needed) and other things, but I’m not a doctor and know there are many illnesses that I would, at best, be guessing at. Which could be deadly, for me or a loved one!

I live in a small rural community. I carry preps in my car year round. I have extra groceries but find it hard to store extra water as I live upstairs and it needs to be hauled in. Being cut off from my family would be hard but I am by nature a self reliant person so unless attacked I would find a way to carry on.

I know people already struggling with heating/power bills. Even minor interruptions will likely result in many deaths, especially in rural areas or a retirees with limited resources. Books like this help me think about not only how to help my immediate family, but what may help a small community survive.

The hardest thing will be the lack of instant communications. We have become so used to texting, calling, emailing, and getting immediate responses that the thought of waiting weeks or months to make contact “the old fashioned way” with family and friends is frightening. This could be debilitating for some, not to mention the potential anxiety from rumors and mis-truths with news and information.

I grew up on Twilight Zone and Outer Limits, so when I consider the worst case scenario, “77 Days” with all electronics out is one of the worst I can imagine. I suspect I will get along better than many because I’m preparing for this. I will miss hearing from family and friends but if I am to survive to see them again, then knowing what to do w/o electronics is what I’m preparing for. I have my manual wheelchair, I still go camping and know I can do much though not like an able bodied person. I have found local plants and herbs which will replace any meds I was using. I know because I have been off them for 5 years now. I have my books and knowledge to teach others which will give me value while others do what those more capable than I can do physically. biggest concern? People just seeing me as disabled instead of finding out what’s inside. There is still much to learn but if/when that time comes, I will be to focal point for some to gather around until family units can meet up together. If that is all that happens. It’s a good thing. My security isn’t like most people’s either. I still advocate getting to know those plants around you so if worse becomes even more worse, you’re prepared for that too. If it doesn’t happen….hey enjoy the gadgets and smile. 🙂 If only you could see me……I’m rubbing my hands together in anticipation of reading both books. 🙂 LOL

My husband is a truck driver gone 3-4 weeks at a time. I’m worried that he’ll be on the road during an EMP and I will have no way of knowing how he is or where he is. I also worry that I’m not prepared enough to survive on my own while he’s gone. I always feel like there’s something that I don’t have that I will need when something happens.

Is he ORT or local? I have a brother who does this too, so I know how little they can carry with them AND the lack of getting to know people along the way. If your man is like my brother, he will also know the back hiways which others may not know. That will help him. Even so, he can carry a light BOB. OK be real; you are able to handle things when he is gone 3-4 weeks, so you will handle this too. If for no other reason, it’s just knowing he WILL make it back so you have to survive. Even if you miss something, just know most of us will miss something it’s part of being human…it’s no different than going on a trip and forgetting something essential. So you just keep on keeping on. I would advise him to have an extra pair of boots/shoes for hiking/walking plus I might think of getting him a pair of those hiking sticks if he’s not used to walking far. They will get him those additional miles he might not be able to handle since he’s used to driving mostly. Push past your worrying and do what needs doing, then let the worry go. It won’t help you or him. 🙂

Losing communication with family and not having accurate information about the world situation would be scary for me. I am still trying to stock necessary stuff, a little at a time, but communications is a problem. Working on it!

I’m not worried about the internet. I have downloaded as much info as possible and have brought new and old books to refer back to. I’m a mother of an Eagle Scout and I think who had to prepare him for the scouts? Still need to work on finding communication and some others. I’m talking this up with my family and hopefully they are taking my advise too!

It is a scary place we Americans now live. When I left the government I went State Homeland Security and a trusted friend went Federal Homeland Security. He left in 2012 as he saw the plan to shut down the grid. I just had a good friend who works for the Power Company in the PNW and they were told in a meeting to get their lives in order and to have a BOB in their vehicle’s at all times. This is a first he told me for the Company to even talk about these kind of things.
I teach Survival and Emergency Preparedness in the American ReDoubt.
You will need GOOD hiking boots that are broke in. Wear two pairs of socks, 1 thin and then 1 thick. This will stop blisters from occurring. The friction will occur between the two shocks. Carry pain meds and personal meds.
Cotton will kill you when wet, wear good outdoor clothing suited for your area.
Have a way to carry WATER AND A SMALL WATER PURIFIER. Without water you are done in a few days and bad water you are done in hours to weeks depending upon the bug you get.
There is a lot of info out there on EMP protection, not all is lost as far as our electronics go. If you use a radio use the lowest power it takes to reach your people and not the bad guys who will be listening. Don’t give your location away.
Getting folks to work together is hard. I work with Disaster relief teams on the EAST Coast and Gulf areas for 40 years and the first few days people will work together and share, by day 3 reality sets in and it will be a different story. The biggest danger I saw was folks on head meds, they come apart after 3 days without meds. Need to work on a plan to work your way off the pills.
I have a terabyte hard drive. I have 20 years worth of my classes on there. I take it to every training to have the leadership download the info and share it in their area. You need a way to power your computer, solar or something so you can play the medical DVDs to do light surgery and refresh your skills.
Have a medical team put together, see who in your area is staying and buy your own meds and gear. These medical folks can not furnish you what you may need.

DANA; Your husband needs to put together 3 different ways to get home. He needs to make friends along the way before they are needed and see if he can find places to stay while he works his way home. Ham Operators now have a Nation wide program run by Preppers and Patriots. They will monitor various radio frequencies to listen for good folks in trouble.
Learn how to shoot, cook with out electricity ,grow your own food, herbs to make meds with. I could go on for ever, but you follow this young lady blog and you will not go wrong. She shares great info and products.
This is how I run the numbers to stay alive;
3 seconds for a life saving decision
3 minutes without good air
3 hours without proper shelter
3 days without good water
3 weeks with out good food – Take vitamins twice a day
3 months without companionship – being lonely, you will give up hope

Be Prepared – Be Prayerful – Be Thankful- You are an American,
RangerRick
North Idaho

I have not protected my solar panels from an EMP. I dont know if I can. This matter is over my head, so I am not going to worry about it. I grow little fisheys in my greenhouse and they need oxygen which is produced by pumps. Pumps need electricity, with no electricity, they will just be food for my little chickeys instead of food for me.

I think one of the big things I would not be prepared for would be heat. With winter just beginning, it makes me very aware that we do not have our wood stove hooked up yet. Plus we do not have very much wood stored up. If something like that happened today, we would be scrambling to get wood to stay warm. The good news is we have a couple of small groves near us to get it from. But it will take a lot of physical work to get it done. That would be the other major concern I would have, is knowing I am not in shape physically enough to deal with that major of a crisis. Which gives me the next two major preps to work on this winter. Finish getting the wood heat option finished and getting into better shape.

unfortunately trying to prepare for all things is impossible. So what we prepare for is a storm of some sorts like a blizzard or tornado or loss of income etc..I did love the idea of the fire starter kit in the toilet tube.. I make sure everyone carries a candle and fire starter.. we keep permanent matches available along with magnesium bar. the candles we have are Crisco in a half pint jar take a heavy cotton shipping string or a wick and coat it with the lard and put a washer on the bottom then hold it above the jar opening fill with melted Crisco to a half inch of the top and let set after it has set clip the wick off and put the cover on in the very top you place some matches and a fire starter. with the matches we also wrap string abound the stick matches and dip in bee’s wax.. they make for mini candles. this unit will fit in almost any car kit and works great if caught in a winter storm as a heater for the car.. or a mini stove.. the other thing we make is small alcohol stoves out of pop cans.. easy to make and they work great..

I do something similar to your Crisco candles, only I reuse my cooking oils and grease instead of tossing it. When going camping, I carry 2 lids, one for carry, the other for putting the wick through if using oil. And yes, they work great in a small space like a car caught in a winter storm. (Saves the car fuel for future unknowns) Also for melting snow for water if need be. So how do you make alcohol stoves from pop cans?

with the world having gone off of their rockers even our own police forces sworn to protect us has gone nuts lately it is important to keep some sort of kit available. I have not read the book but am thinking it would be a good entertaining read of upcoming craziness..

Keeping food “safe” in the heat…if there is no electricity, then there is no refrigeration, and since the lakes never really freeze around here, there’s no way to “cut the ice” and store it like they did 100 years ago…so keeping food safe, or learning how to preserve meat, like salt-curing, is something I really need to learn. I know how to can veggies, but I’ve never canned meat, and I’d rather “cure” pork than can it.

Sharon,
to keep food cool in the summer, build a box as big as you like. Line the inside and outside with burlap. Wet the burlap and as the wind evaporates the water it cools what is inside the box. Keep the box in the shade always.

You may also find very large clay flower pots, one that will fit inside the other with some room to spare. Same idea. Put sand in the bottom of the largest pot and set in the smaller pot. Put sand in between the two pots.
Wet the sand, as it evaporates it will cool the product inside. Put the pot in the ground in a shady place and you will need to only drop the temp from 55 degrees to whatever you can get to. A test we did a few years back we got the inside pot down into the 40’s enough for meds.

Got a creek, build a milk house ( brick/block ) over the creek and insulate the building some and that is how milk was kept cool back in the day. Goggle milk house for more info.

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MEET GAYE

I'm Gaye, just an ordinary gal trying to make sense of our changing world. I am addicted to prepping, DIY projects, adult coloring books, and ballroom dancing. I live what I call a strategic life and believe you should too. Everyone needs to prepare for the worst and live for the best. Won't you join me?

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